Seven North points to giving back to the community

WASILLA — Cheri Martinez started Seven North nearly a decade ago with the intent to be more than a clothing store. She set out to create an inviting atmosphere for local women while utilizing her business as a platform to support her community.

“I kinda retired from my job and I got bored so I opened something because I wanted to give back and I figured a clothing store would be fun,” Martinez said.

Seven North strives to provide elevated fashion trends at a reasonable price. Martinez said they carry items for all seasons with staff helping customers put together the look they’re going for.

“They should be able to help you find a look for any occasion,” Martinez said. “We’re here to help the community feel better about themselves.”

Seven North was one of the main sponsors for Heliofest Valley of the Midnight Sun Music and Arts Festival, a new all-day fundraising event benefitting a local nonprofit called Just Us Girls Support, or J.U.G.S. for short.

The first annual Heliofest featured musicians from across the country and Alaskan acts of all shapes and sizes performing at the Alaska State Fairgrounds with a variety of vendors and food trucks to browse from throughout the event.

This most recent example of Seven North’s community involvement stems from the owner’s close attachment to J.U.G.S. founder Lynn Nordland and her mission to connect local women battling cancer to important resources and social connections through a variety of groups and services.

“I created Heliofest to make Lynn’s dream come true,” Nordland said. “There was a huge list… I’m just one of many that made this happen. I feel like it was a huge group effort. I feel like all of this is about everybody giving back and trying to help each other. There’s a huge, huge amount of people who have great hearts and are able to come together for a good cause.”

Martinez is the J.U.G.S. event and marketing coordinator and created Heliofest to support the group’s ongoing efforts to expand to an all one hub for Alaskan women looking for direction after their diagnosis. She said the crowd was lighter than they hoped, but it stirred a lot of excitement and awareness for their cause.

“A lot of them had personal stories behind their support for this,” Martinez said. “There’s a lot of amazing people out there. Most if not all of our volunteers have some connection to cancer.”

Martinez said J.U.G.S. is running solely off volunteer effort and community donations and partnerships who’ve rallied behind their cause. She said Heliofest proceeds and future donations will help their ongoing efforts creating an online resource page for cancer patients and other expansions to their overall mission providing a support network for women across Alaska.

For more information about Seven North, visit shopsevennorthak.com.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com